BMW's M3 Touring was the M division's very first compact estate. Jonathan Crouch reports on the updated version.
Ten Second Review
The Touring estate variant of BMW's M3 at last opened up ownership to family buyers of this iconic Munich-made super sports model. Tick off fiery performance, room for a trans-continental road trip and space for one potentially very queasy Labrador. Here's the improved version.
Background
British buyers love fast estates and they particularly love BMW's M3. It was surprising then, that the Munich maker never married the two things together until 2022. In that year, the M3 Touring was launched in late 2022 as part of the celebrations for the company's M division's 50th anniversary.
This was the first time in seven generations of 3 Series that the full-fat M treatment had been applied to the Touring estate body style. Which we'd always thought odd given the success over the decades of Audi's RS4 Avant and the Mercedes-AMG C 63 estate. Prior to 2022, M division estate cars of any kind had in fact been rare - we'd only ever had two, based on older E34 and E61 versions of the larger M5, with only the latter ever offered in right hand drive. A concept M3 Touring version of the old E46 3 Series was made, but never productionised. So the introduction of this new M3 Touring was quite an event, a car then updated in mid-2024 to create the model we're going to look at here.
Driving Experience
Like the M3 saloon and the M4 coupe and convertible models, the M3 Touring comes only in Competition-spec form where in this updated guise it now offers 530hp (20hp more than before). As before, you can only have it with xDrive AWD. The dynamic set-up is pretty much identical to that of the M3 saloon and there's only a fractional acceleration penalty for the extra weight of the extended bodywork. The 62mph sprint time is 3.6s, en route to 174mph with the optional 'M Driver's' package fitted. There's 650Nm of torque from the S58 3.0-litre twin turbo straight six which, as with this model siblings, works through an 8-speed auto gearbox and an active M differential controlling both axles. With this updated model, peak torque is sustained for longer in the rev range, maxing out at 5,730rpm (it was 5,500rpm before).
That uber-rapid potential is accompanied by a glorious roar from the active sports exhaust, whose soundtrack is one of the things you can alter either via this centre console 'Setup' button or the centre stack display's selectable 'M Menu'. Either way, you get to a screen allowing you to tailor your preferred drive settings and store your two most favoured combinations behind little red 'M1' and 'M2' tabs on the steering wheel - one perhaps for commuting, the other maybe for your favourite backroad. You can alter parameters for engine, transmission and steering; plus there are three 'chassis' options for the suppleness of the Adaptive M suspension with its electronically controlled damping; and two pedal feel settings for the M Compound brakes. Plus there's a centre console 'M Mode' button, which offers 'Road', 'Sport' and 'Track' settings, each of which changes the instrument display and the level of drive assistance system intervention.
Braver folks can use the 'M Menu' to deactivate the DSC traction system and play with the track-orientated 'M Drift Analyser'. BMW's standard 'M Drive Professional' package also includes an 'M Laptimer', plus the brand has also redesigned the cooling and oil supply systems specially for circuit use.
Design and Build
Apart from the extended roofline and boxier rear end, the M3 Touring replicates the look of the M3 saloon. That means large vertical front air intakes, unique bumpers, flared wheel arches, side skirts and a quad-exit exhaust. Wheels are 19-inches in size at the front and 20-inches at the back. Visually, this model update is subtle, though M3 enthusiasts will spot the new arrow-shaped LED headlight designs, the smarter coloured alloy wheels and the redesigned M3 badging.
The changes inside are as subtle as the exterior ones. There's a new flat-bottomed steering wheel which can now be trimmed in race-style alcantara (we'd tick that box); and various aluminium fascia trim pieces that were optional before are now standard. As before, the 12.3-inch instrument screen is accompanied by a 14.9-inch curved infotainment display, the latter considerably upgraded as part of this update. There's now 5G connectivity, a widget bar that can be customised with favourite driver functions, augmented reality tech for the navigation and a more streamlined system to connect the car with the provided MyBMW app. As before with this generation M3, there are grippy M Sport seats which can be cooled. Plus there are M-specific graphics for the bigger head-up display.
Two adults will fit reasonably comfortably on the rear bench but it would be a squash for three. As for the estate compartment, well there's 500-litres of boot space (compare that to the 440-llitres available in the M3 saloon), capacity which you can extend in this Touring model by dropping the 40:20:40-split rear bench to free up 1,510-litres. There's a powered tailgate and a rear window that opens separately so that you can more easily put in smaller bags.
Market and Model
BMW says the M3 Touring offers 'variability and generosity in terms of transport capacities for eventful everyday mobility and fast-paced travel activities'. You wouldn't expect any that come cheap and it doesn't - and the asking price (around £84,700 at the time of this updated model's launch) is £2,280 more than you'd pay for an M3 M xDrive Saloon. There are the same colour and trim combinations as the sedan too.
Of course, you get a lot for the asking figure, particularly inside where signature M details include red accents for the M buttons on the M leather steering wheel and the start/stop button on the centre console. The selector lever with-Drivelogic switch is leather surfaced with an embedded M logo and stitching in M colours. An anthracite-coloured BMW Individual headliner and interior trim strips in Carbon Fibre High-gloss are standard. Fine-grain Merino black leather trim is standard as are M sport seats, which are electrically adjustable and heated. These seats have pronounced side bolsters, integrated head restraints and an illuminated model badge.
Options include rubberised anti-slip rails that rise up from the boot floor after the tailgate has been closed, preventing items of luggage sliding around when cornering; and buttons to automatically fold the rear seats from the boot. Another highlight of the options list is the M Carbon bucket seats available for the driver and front passenger, which include CFRP in their construction and save 9.6kg over the standard M sport seats. These can be specified on their own or within the M Carbon Package.
Cost of Ownership
BMW has done what it can to make this car's S58 straight six as efficient as it can be and the result of that is a best possible combined fuel figure of 27.4mpg and a CO2 best of 233g/km. as you'd expect, this is much the same as an equivalent M3 saloon or M3 coupe. The BiK Benefit in Kind taxation rate is a lofty 37%. Insurance (group 43E) is as expensive as you'd expect from a car with this sort of potency under the bonnet, so younger drivers ought to ensure they can get halfway sensibly priced cover first.
Residual values should hold up well too; used demand for this rather unique M3 should prove very healthy indeed. On to the warranty package. BMW's warranty only lasts for three years but it includes an Emergency breakdown service and at least it isn't mileage limited - unlike the comparable package you'd get as standard with a rival Audi. You can of course extent the warranty with either monthly or annual payments. There's a three year paintwork warranty and the usual 12 year anti-corrosion warranty.
Summary
BMW's pre-2022-era reticence to rival Mercedes and Audi by producing an estate version of its M3 was difficult to understand. Yes, there were Alpina B3 and D3 Touring models to plug the gap for an uber-quick 3 Series estate, but most potential buyers simply went and bought an RS4 Avant or a C 63 estate instead. Today though, they need to take this M3 Touring very seriously indeed, especially in this updated form.
This is really the car that customers for the Munich maker's X3 M, X4 M, X5 M and X6 M SUV models ought to be buying. It's so much more satisfying, better looking and agile. Plus visually, you might, like us, think it has more pavement presence than any more conventional M3 or M4. Now all we need is a CSL version...
